Chapter 22
“Hill of Tara?” asked Jackson. “In Ireland? Why there?”
“Because that’s where he was found,” answered Cody.
“You mean was born?” asked Logan.
“No, I mean found. His parents…well, I guess they would be considered his adoptive parents…couldn’t have pups and his father found Kieran lying under an ancient oak tree near the Hill of Tara,” explained Cody.
“Isn’t that where his old pack is? Norman thought he’d never go back there,” said Jackson.
“Maybe he went back to find his birth parents,” offered Theo.
“No, Kieran told me he never wanted to know who they were,” said Norman.
Jackson glanced at Oracle and saw the twitching of her lips, as she tried to contain a smile. Now certain Cody was correct, he said, “Okay, Logan you need to go to Ireland and convince Kieran you didn’t reject him. How soon will you be ready?”
“I need an hour to shower and pack,” said Logan, hope filling his heart.
Joining the group, Steel strode over to Jackson, bending down to give him a kiss first, then saying to Logan, “I’ve already texted Robert who’ll be here within the hour.
I suggest you move it if you plan to make your flight.
” Then looking at the confused looks as to how he knew what was going on, Steel pointed to his head.
“Mind link, Jackson brought me up to speed and told me time was of the essence.”
Theo spoke up. “I think Norm and I need to go too.”
“I understand how you feel, Theo, but this is between Fated Mates and it’s obvious Logan and Kieran have some talking to do. Let’s give them a chance to sort matters out first. Kieran has to be in Scotland next week, so you’ll be seeing him there.”
Theo stared at Jackson. “We’re still going?”
“Why wouldn’t you be going?” asked Jackson.
Norman’s face turned red. “Well…uhm…what we did…you know…Kieran’s room.”
Jackson was once again reminded of the life these boys had led.
Shaking his head, he said, “If you’re referring to your reaction to Kieran’s leaving…
then nope, one has nothing to do with the other.
I won’t be punishing you by taking away your trip to Scotland with Lizzie next week, but I expect both of you to be responsible for your actions and take the appropriate steps to make it right.
Norman, everyone makes mistakes. The difference between being a child and an adult is what you do about the mistakes you make. ”
Talking through their mind link and coming to agreement with Theo, Norman said, “We can pay to replace everything and whatever else needs to be done to Kieran’s bedroom.”
“Good. That’s a start. But what are you going to do about controlling your reactions to news you don’t like?
” asked Jackson. Then waving his hand as he saw Theo and Norman hesitating, he said, “No, I’m not looking for an answer from you right now, but I’d suggest you talk to Cody and see what ideas he has to help you. ”
“Zane, I’m pretty sure Kieran and Logan will be heading over to Scotland from Ireland, so please pack a suitcase of additional clothes for Kieran.”
“We can do that,” exclaimed Theo. “We’ve already talked about it and know what Kieran wanted to take with him.”
“Fine, have it ready to go within the hour. ‘Operation Find Kieran’ has begun!” Jackson rose, then said to the group, “As Kieran would say, ‘chop, chop’!”
As they all headed out the door, Oracle spoke. “Jackson, I would like a moment with Logan…alone, please.”
Glancing at his brother, Jackson saw a tiny nod. “Here, use my study. Bro, I’ll see you in the great room within the hour,” he said, patting Logan on the shoulder before he left with Steel to go to Daniel.
Oracle sat next to Logan, smiling gently. “Congratulations on finding your Fated Mate.”
“Thanks, but you might be a bit premature unless I can convince Kieran I didn’t reject him.”
“I understand,” Oracle said, then pausing. “Would you mind if I offer you some advice?”
“If it will help me get my Kieran back, then no, I don’t.”
“While I cannot tell you what Kieran is, I can tell you he is unique. The Fates picked him and challenged him his whole life and he passed every test no matter how hard it was. He has an inner beauty and glow that no amount of pain can extinguish. Logan, he needs you as much as he needs the air to breathe and his heart to beat.”
“But if he is unique, why did the Fates give him me? I mean, I’m hardly special.”
“You are wrong. When you talk to Kieran, listen with your whole heart and soul…not only the part that you are willing to risk.”
Logan, embarrassed that Oracle knew that about him, looked down and murmured, “I don’t know if I can do that. What happens if he leaves me forever?”
“I agree. It is a risk you would be taking, but do you think you could ever be happy if you knew every day Kieran would be sad, knowing that all of you did not belong to him?”
Tears flooded his eyes as he thought about his pink-loving twink, with his joy of life, and knew Kieran wanted all of him. “I’m afraid,” whispered Logan.
“Oh, honey,” Oracle said, giving Logan a hug. “I know. It is a big risk for you, especially, but on the flight, please think about taking it. It might help to erase the ghosts of the past.”
“Maybe, it’s just that I don’t know how to begin. What if Kieran walks away again? I don’t think I could survive this twice.”
“Maybe he will, but I think he deserves the chance to decide for himself, hmm? That is what he wanted from Jackson, right? To make his own decisions?”
“Yes. I know I should tell him everything but what if…”
“Have you considered it can happen to him, too? What if he tells you everything about himself and you walk away? He is taking the same risk, right?”
“I would never walk away! I’ve been waiting for him my whole life. Nothing he could tell me would ever change my mind about my mate…I love him!”
“Then I think you have your answer. Now, go and bring Kieran home.”
~/~/~/~/~
“Norm, do you think Ki will come back home with Logan?” asked Theo while they were picking out clothes to pack.
“I don’t know, but I hope so. At least we may be able to talk to him in Scotland next week. But if he won’t come back, then as far as I’m concerned, we stay with him.”
“Yes! I was thinking the same thing. Our place is with him, wherever that is. Should we pack his kilt outfit?”
“Uhm…yeah, we better. If he and Logan make up, then he’ll want to go dancing and if he doesn’t have it…”
“I hear ya!” said Norman, folding up the kilt and shirt. “Boy, I never realized how much pink stuff he has. I wonder why?”
“I don’t know, but I like it. Maybe I should wear something pink. Would you like that?” Theo asked, holding up a pink t-shirt of Kieran’s.
“I love anything you wear and really love it when you wear nothing at all,” Norman said, wrapping his arms around his lover, kissing the beautiful lips he’d dreamed about for years.
A knock at the door broke them apart as Cody stuck his head in. “Hey, is Kieran’s case packed?”
“Just a few more things and we’ll be finished. Should I take it downstairs?” asked Norman.
“Yup, and thanks guys,” Cody said, before closing the door. He paused outside Kieran’s room, trying to keep his laughter silent, then quickly left and made it to his bedroom before collapsing on the bed and letting it burst forth.
Dylon came in from the sitting room after putting the twins down for their morning nap and found Cody laughing, trying to muffle the sound with a pillow. Plopping down next to his mate, Dylon pulled the pillow away and asked, “What’s so funny?”
Cody finally was able to describe Theo and Norman’s guilty faces after he had interrupted their sexy time. “They stood there, hands behind their backs, faces red and lips puffy.”
“Did you say anything?”
“Of course not! I thought it was so cute, but now I’m wondering if the guilty looks came from what happened to them when they were younger.”
“Possible. If we get a therapist, maybe he can help them accept they’d done nothing wrong. I’ve been wondering…you know, bears mate in threes…if Theo and Norm will ever find a third or whether they’ll buck that, and it’ll just be the two of them.”
“A third? I never thought about that. They’re so close and have been through so much…how could a new bear possibly understand what they’ve been through?”
“I don’t know. I guess time will tell, but I sure would hate to be their third.”
“What about Logan?” asked Cody. “Are you willing to admit I was right?”
“That he’d hurt Kieran? I think it was me who said that.”
Jabbing Dylon in the ribs, Cody exclaimed, “Fuck off, you know I meant Kieran being his Fated Mate.”
“True, but I told you your brother would hurt him.”
“Okay, okay…it’s a draw. But I hope Logan doesn’t fuck up his second chance. C’mon, grab the baby monitor and let’s head to the great room.”
~/~/~/~/~
After showering and carefully packing his suitcase, Logan made his bed, checked that his dirty laundry was in his hamper, and that his bathroom towels were hung up to dry.
Then he sat on the bed and looked around his room—finding it to be cold and lifeless without Kieran’s light.
A sob escaped as he tried again to talk to the wolves and spirit in him but found only deadly silence.
Sighing at the mess he’d made of things, he grabbed his suitcase and stood, determined to try and fix it.
“Come in,” Logan called after hearing a knock on his bedroom door and Steel walked in.
“Hey, everything is arranged. Robert will pick you up and take you to our jet which will fly you to Ireland. Once you land, a team of Slate’s enforcers will meet you along with a driver and a car to take you to the Hill of Tara.
The enforcers will follow you but will stay out of sight once you find Kieran… ”
“You mean…if I find him, don’t you?”
“Keep the faith, Logan. We all had problems with our mating so why should it be any different for you? I’ve rented a private home for you and Kieran, so you can have some privacy.
Don’t worry about the enforcers…that’s also been taken care of.
All you have to do is find Kieran and iron out any misconceptions either of you have.
If you need anything, call me or Jackson, though I think I have everything covered. Good luck!”
“Thanks Steel. Take care of everyone for me, okay?”
“Will do. If you’re ready, Robert will have the chopper here shortly and I know Jackson wants to say good bye. Be prepared for tears.”
“His or mine?” asked Logan as he walked to the door.
He felt like his entire future hung in the balance.
Once he was downstairs, Steel took his suitcase, as one by one Logan’s brothers came up to hug him and wish him luck.
What really touched him were Theo and Norman who hugged him and whispered their support.
By the time he got to his twin, Logan was a mess.
The stress of finding his mate gone, the fear that Kieran had really rejected him—or worse, that he wouldn’t be able to make amends had overwhelmed Logan’s defenses and he was now on the brink of becoming a major basket case.
Jackson immediately assessed his brother’s feelings and enveloped him in a hug, holding him tightly as possible while whispering in Logan’s ear.
They stood there together…twins who looked so different yet were so alike…
responsibility, loyalty, duty, and love for their family governing their entire lives.
Finally, when he felt Logan had drawn from his deep reserves of strength that Jackson had relied on so much during the days after the massacre, he whispered his final words, “I love you, Logan and I know you’ll find Kieran and make everything right.
Now, go and do it. Don’t make me a liar. ”
Logan snorted. “I wouldn’t do that to you. I’ll call you as soon as I find him.”
“Don’t call. Slate’s men will let Steel know. You just focus on Kieran.”
“Okay, I love you bro.” Taking his bag from Steel and giving Daniel a hug and a kiss, Logan walked out the front door and, hearing his twin call out to him, turned back to Jackson with a questioning look before smiling as he heard him say, “Enjoy the helicopter ride!”
Much to his surprise he did enjoy the ride and was astounded at the interior of the jet. Colton’s pictures certainly didn’t do justice to the finishes, comfort or feeling of luxury that enveloped him.
When he was gently shaken awake, Logan couldn’t believe he’d fallen asleep given all the worry weighing him down.
After freshening up in the full bathroom, he ate the breakfast waiting for him and before he knew it, the jet had landed.
From there, everything went just as Steel said it would—the enforcers were waiting for him along with a car and driver.
Taking Logan’s suitcase, the head enforcer—Groose—led him to a car where a driver held opened the door for him.
Logan got in, hopeful for the first time since he started his journey.
On the plane he thought about the advice Oracle gave him and had reached a decision.
Finally, the driver started the car and drove off in the direction of the Hill of Tara—at least Logan hoped so—and while trying to distract himself from what might happen, he looked around at the land of his mate’s birth, falling in love with it.
When the car slowed down and then stopped, Logan found himself no longer nervous or worried.
Instead, a steely determination filled him as he got out of the car and looked around.
The driver came up to him, pointed and said, “Sir, that is the only ancient oak tree near the Hill of Tara.”
Logan started walking toward the stately tree with its many gnarled branches.
The closer he got, the more he could feel his mate through Kieran’s spirit.
He slowed his footsteps and held his breath, then gasped at seeing his mate, eyes closed, lying in the tall grass that grew around the base of the tree.
Hearing the noise, Kieran opened his eyes, stared at Logan and then, his mouth slowly curved upwards until the smile his mate loved made an appearance.